Class B dormitory
"I must be ready..." Satoru muttered under his breath.
"Yeah," Tetsutetsu heard him. "Always remember that we're here too, when you need us."
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you," Satoru said, fixing his hair. "My hero costume is pretty worn-out... I must fix it somehow. I'll go to the Development Studio."
Tetsutetsu jumped. "Wait, wait, wait! You can't! That's where your ex-girlfriend works!"
"I know, but do I have any other choices?" Satoru asked.
"No..." Tetsutetsu realized.
"Don't worry, it'll be quick and easy," said Satoru. "I mean, we don't necessarily need to talk, right? I can ask Power Loader-sensei."
"I just hope you know what you're doing, Sat," said Tetsutetsu. "She's one of the ones who still haven't forgiven you for what you did."
"I know, Tets," Satoru said. "I must be ready."
__________
Development Studio entrance
Okay, act normal, Satoru... you don't need to talk to her...
"Hey, Satoru-kun!" Satoru heard Izuku's voice. Iida was walking next to him. "Are you going to the Development Studio too?"
"Yeah," said Satoru. "I must fix my Hero costume. If I want to be ready for the final battle, there's a part of my costume I must fix."
"Which one?" Iida asked.
"The gloves," Satoru replied. "So I can shoot 'Air Cannon' from my palms."
"There's something I must fix, too," said Izuku. "And it's a good thing we're all he-"
BOOM!
The door of the laboratory exploded open.
"Deja vù," said Iida.
Satoru turned back, already knowing what was about to happen. (It may sound rude, but I don't want to see my ex's breasts on someone else's face.)
"It's been a while, Midoriya!" Mei exclaimed.
Izuku got up. Why didn't 'Danger Sense' activate?
"Sorry 'bout that," Mei said while brushing off some dust from her legs. "Do you two need something?"
Satoru slowly turned. "Yo."
SBAM!
Mei threw a wrench right in Satoru's forehead. "How dare you come here after everything you've done?!"
"Ouch!" Satoru fell on the floor and clutched his forehead. "That hurt..."
"Hatsume-kun, calm down," Iida said. "We've come here because we need to fix our costumes."
"I won't fix his," Mei said, pointing at Satoru. "And by the way, couldn't you ask the Item agency?"
"Well, the Item agency is not active right now," Iida explained. "That's why we've come here."
Dammit, it's like seeing an ex... Satoru slowly got up. No, it's not 'like' seeing an ex. I'm actually seeing my ex.
"You can come inside, I'll do what I can!" Mei exclaimed. "But not you, Satoru Akiyama. You stay out."
"Hatsume!" Power Loader came out of the dust. "How do you manage to always blow up things?"
He noticed Satoru. "Oh, Akiyama, come inside! Do you need to fix your costume?"
Mei snorted.
"Yes, I do," Satoru slowly walked inside, but not before Mei slapped his nape.
"This place has changed a lot," Iida said.
"No wonder," Satoru added.
Izuku showed his gauntlets.
"Mid Gauntlets!" Mei exclaimed. "They're items that use the most recent compression technology."
"They're prototypes coming from abroad," said Izuku. "I'd like it if you would fix them."
"Of course!" Mei exclaimed.
"Akiyama, come here," Power Loader said. "Ask me what you want."
"Power Loader-sensei, I..." Satoru muttered. "I want you to modify my gloves. I want them to have a tiny hole in the middle of the palm."
Satoru showed his palms. "See? This way, I will be able to use 'Air Cannon' without destroying my gloves."
"Fine, I'll see what I can do," Power Loader said as he took Satoru's gloves. "You can wait here, you'll have them in a couple of minutes."
Satoru walked away and mistakenly took a look at Mei, who was sitting in front of a monitor, doing something.
I'd really like to talk to her... I'm still smitten with her...
Satoru took a step forward, but Iida grabbed his shoulder. "Don't do it, Akiyama-kun."
"Iida-kun..." Satoru muttered.
"I know what you're thinking," Iida said. "But if you keep thinking about it, it'll hurt more. There are plenty of fish in the sea."
Satoru snorted. "Tch... I know it, Iida-kun. I don't know what's gotten into me."
"C'mon, let's reach Midoriya," said Iida. "And stop thinking about talking to Hatsume-kun."
Satoru nodded and walked next to Izuku alongside Iida.
She's so good at doing her work... I deeply regret having been a Villain...
"I perfectly know that you Heroes are going through a huge danger," Mei said. "We can't fight, so we make thousands of attempts to protect as many people as possible. The Support course's main activity is inventions."
Iida looked at Satoru. The way he looks at her... he clearly still has feelings for her.
Izuku took a step closer. "Hatsum--"
SBANG!
Izuku's gauntlets smashed on his own face.
"I can't recreate it identically, so you can use my babies."
Mei threw Satoru's gloves at him, but this time, she did it willingly. "Take these. I modified them only because Power Loader-sensei asked me."
Satoru grabbed the gloves on the fly, avoiding the impact with his face.
"Well... thanks, then," he muttered. "I... I guess I'll go."
Mei didn't answer. Then she did. "Don't talk to me. I still haven't forgiven you. Not by a long shot."
Satoru put his new gloves on. "I don't want you to. I'll demonstrate to you I'm worthy of being pardoned through my actions."
"I told you to shut up," Mei repeated. "Now you'd better leave, before I smash another wrench on your forehead."
Satoru nodded and turned back.
"Tell the others in the hero course we're going to win," Hatsume ultimately said.
Satoru silently nodded and left.
"How the hell did your faces shrink like that?" Satoru asked, seeing Izuku's and Iida's facial conditions. "I guess this stuff is heavy..."
Chapter 77 - End